Greg Hatton

Management of Technology MBA student in the Beedie School of Business

I always loved air and spacecraft with a passion since I was a small boy. So, I'm an aerospace engineer (Professional Engineer) with over 20 years experience now designing and certifying airplane and helicopter modifications. I'm a Transport Canada delegate and hold certification authority for certifying aircraft modifications for airworthiness. I've been involved in a couple of start-ups in the past as well as established corporations working on many aircraft product development projects. This work has taken me around the world working on many exciting projects. I am currently interested in aerospace related start ups as well as early development companies looking to develop vehicles. Currently there is a revolution happening in electric aircraft technology so that is something I am quite interested to possibly move into. Similarly, in space travel technologies there are many exciting advancements happening. I want to get involved with a venture in one of these areas and mesh my considerable design and certification capabilities with newfound business capability.

WHY DID YOU CHOOSE TO COME TO SFU?

I have a great deal of education and experience in industry already but, due to the nature of the work that I have done, just like anyone, I have gaps in knowledge. I am interested in business ventures and advancing my career, so I was looking for an MBA that would fill in the gaps to help me go to the next level in my career. I was looking for one that would be innovative and entrepreneurial and focused on technology as well. The SFU MOT MBA format, being focused on advanced tech, I found to be attractive and useful to me. SFU has an excellent reputation, an entrepreneurial focus and is one of the most innovative universities in the world, so I like that a lot. I live, work, and play in Vancouver so it is fantastic that there is such a great school so close. Beedie School of Business downtown campuses are excellent venues at the heart of one of the most beautiful cities in the world. So, for those reasons, I choose SFU.

HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR RESEARCH OR YOUR PROGRAM TO A FAMILY MEMBER?

I am taking the Management of Technology MBA program at the Beedie School of Business. I think of this MBA as like CEO training for technology companies. Basically, with a focus on advanced technology, you learn how to see business opportunities, strategize how to capitalize on them, then design, operate and lead tech companies to do so; building products and services that are successful.

WHAT ARE YOU PARTICULARLY ENJOYING ABOUT YOUR STUDIES/RESEARCH AT SFU?

The MOT MBA is an excellent program, the course offerings are really fascinating and, I think will fill in the gaps in knowledge that I had. I’m almost through the second semester so far and am doing well and enjoying it immensely. The Professors are excellent at SFU (Beedie), and the facilities are beautiful, well equipped, and right in downtown Vancouver. The vibe downtown Vancouver is great. My class is made of 46 men and women who typically are in more senior management roles and have backgrounds as scientists, engineers, computer programmers and so on. They come from diverse tech backgrounds such as finance, high tech, aero, medical, energy, and more. The average experience is 16 years per person so the knowledge in each class is huge at over 700 years. There is a lot of group work that is super creative, and collaborative and you learn a lot from each other and what is done in different industries. So, it is really rewarding and I’m making lots of friends and colleagues with this wonderful bunch.

HAVE YOU BEEN THE RECIPIENT OF ANY MAJOR OR DONOR-FUNDED AWARDS? IF SO, PLEASE TELL US WHICH ONES AND A LITTLE ABOUT HOW THE AWARDS HAVE IMPACTED YOUR STUDIES AND/OR RESEARCH.

I am honored to have received the Beedie Family Scholarship Award. It is a significant financial award. I am self funding the MBA, so this is really helpful.

HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR PROGRAM/POSTDOC POSITION TO SOMEONE STILL SEARCHING FOR A PROGRAM OR POSTDOC POSITION?

If the person was from a tech, or wanted to be in tech, and you want to be a tech leader then this is the program for you. It’s top notch. I would say that and note the MBA description above.

IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE YOU'D LIKE TO SHARE?

I finish the MOT MBA at the end of July 2023 so I will be searching for opportunities and will be keen to get involved in some aerospace related venture.

Contact : ghh2@sfu.ca

Additional links 

• LinkedIn